Shaft coupling



T.c. noBBlNs. SHAFT COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED NDV. 6,1920.

Patented May i6, E922.,

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

T. C. DOBBINS.

- SHAFT couPLTNG. n APPLICATION FILED NOVl 6. 1920. I i 194i 6:7341 Patented May 16, IIIIZ 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IIIIIII IT ATTORNEY sans TIMOTHY G. DOBBINS, 0F DENVER, CGIORADO.

SHAFT COUPLING.

'i Specification of Letters Patent.y

Application tiled November 6, 1920. Serial No. 422,148.

To all whom t may concern:

Be itknown that I, TIMOTHY C. DoBBINs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, inthe State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shaft Couplings, of which the following,

taken in connection withv the accompanying drawings, 1s va specification.

The invention relates to shaft couplingsof the so-called universal type, which are characterized by an adaptability for permitting power to be transmitted throughtwo coupled shaft sections which are angularly disposed with respect to each other.

One object of the invention is a construction of a coupling of the above described type which will not require lubrication.

Another object is the construction of a coupling of the same type that will permit o f end thrusts of the connected shaft sect1ons. v m

Another object is the construction of a coupling that will be cheap to manufacture and easily assembled and disassembled.

Another. object'is the construction of a coupling more particularly of the type above described which will partially absorb the torque of the driving shaft or the resistance to torque of the driven shaft when power is initially applied or when the driven shaft encounters sudden and momentary resistance to rotation.

Another object is the construction of a universal coupling which will produce a. minimum of noise and vibration. v

More specifically my invention also involves an improved mounting for the rocker shoes of the coupling illustrated and described in my United States Letters Patent No. 1,147,620, issued July 20, 1915.

Another specific object is to prevent the rocker lshoes from -being dislocated by end thrusts of the shaft sections, angular displacement of the shaft sections, or accidental causes.

Another object is t'o provide a mounting for the rocker shoes of the coupling shown in my Patent No. 1,147,620, which will be especially resista-nt to wear.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an end view of one form of the coupling;

Figure 2 is an elevation partly in section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detailed view of one form of gear on which the rocker shoes are mounted; y

Figure 4 is'an end view of a modification of the coupling shown in Figure 1;

F igurev5 is an elevation partly in section on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4. v Y

Figure 6 is a detailed view of still another modification.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the numerals 1 and 2 indicate two shaft sections shown in this instance as in approximate alignment. One of these shaft sections, for example that indicated :by the numeral 1, carries a ring or circular housing 3, the ring being for convenience ofmanufacture and assembling and disassembling, connected to the shaft through the medium of the collar 4. Suitable means of connecting the ring to the collar are provided, such for example as the bolts 5 and theannular plate 6, the latter serving t'o give additional strength to the union between the ring and the collar. The collar may be fixedly retained on the shaft by any suitable means, such as by the key 7 and the nut 8.

The other shaft section 2 carries in this instance a fish-,bone gear, which may be composed of two complementaryse'ctions, 9 and 10, and the unit is xedly mounted -on the shaft section ,2 by any suitable means, such as the key 11 and the nut 12. lf desired the gear may be provided with flanges 10, 10a` which assist in preventing the rockers hereinafter mentioned from being dislocated from engagement with the gear.

The inner perimeter of the ring 3 is preferably formed in the shape of an annular groove which acts as a seat for the resilient annular body or element 13. This element may be composedof any suitable material, such as rubber, and constructed in such way as to act as a cushion which will cooperate with therocker shoes 14. The number of rockershoes is not invariable, but in the particular construction shown four are employed, this number having been found b experience to answer-,the requirements. lhe rockers 14 are provided withfish-bone teeth to mesh with theteeth ofthe fish-bone gear, and the shoes of the rockers are grooved to partially surround the resilient element 13 whereby the latter is compressed and retained more or less firmly between the shoes and the grooved seat in the inner perimeter o f the ring 3.

Patented May 16,1922.

the parts that it is brought about by the'v compressed as The radius of transverse curvature of the groove in the ring and also of the grooves in the shoes may be varied to'suit diderent conditions, but under many conditions, such for example as in automobile construction, it is preferable that the radius of curvature of these two elements be greater than the cross-section radius of the resilient element 13. This particular feature of the device is reserved for further application for Letters Patent.

For most advantageous results it is desirable that the resilient element be at all times, even while the coupling is not subjected to torque, under a considerable` degree of compression.- The desired compression may be e'ected by so proportioning Imere assembling of the coupling.

ln operation, with the shaft sections angularly disposed with respect to each other, it is obvious that thev resilient element 13 will roll inthe grooves between which it is the coupling turns and that it will confo c itself to continuously changing angles sulli, -forinstance, as occur in the normal operation'of the transmission shaft of an automobile. As has been heretofore stated, it is preferable that the parts be so -proportioned that there will normally be considerable compression of the resilient element 13. This normal degree of compression should be sufficient to prevent the resilient element from axially revolving in its seat and also to prevent the vshoes from slipping along the resilient element when torque f 1s applied to either shaft; in other words it should be such that the ends of the shoes will be caused to still further compress or bite into vthe resilient element when torque is applied to one of the shafts. The action of the device may properly `be described as that of a number of toggles, each rocker forming one arm of a toggle, and the gear the other, the joint being formed by the gear teeth connections. It should be noted that the resilient member need not' be continuous nor solid nor a single pieceV strucv ture, it being merely essential that there be proper resiliency undereach' shoe; nor is it indispensable that the shoes be upon the inner member or gear and the resilient member seatedin the ring, nor that the action be based on the toggle principle, the essential bei lthat the shoes carried .by one member s ould, when torque is applied to one of the shafts, be forced radially so that there is a progressive compression of the resilient member.

Another action also takes place that performs the important function of distributing wear on the resilient element. As

- torque ontheshafts is reduced to zero each shoe is by virtue of the resiliency of the member 13, restered to normal position.

, ment of the fish-bone geareven without the intenti 7 5 Hanges 10, 10, prevents lateral play of the rockers, that is, play axially of the fish-bone gear, and likewise prevents the rockers rom creeping about the periphery of the gear and thus disarranging themselves from predetermined spaced relation. The use of the Hanges, however, establishes a margin of safety against axial play which isusually desirable. l l

In the form shown in Figures 4 and 5 there is substituted for the fish-bone. gear an ordinary rectangular gear 15,also preferably provided with flanges, one of which may consist of the plate 16 'and the otherof. the plate 1], the latter through the medium 90 of the collar 17", also acting as a means of connection with the shaft 2. The rockers 18" accompanying this type are prvided withv gear teeth conforming to the vteeth of the' gear 15, and it will be obvious that'lateral motion of the rockers, whether or not the shafts are angularly disposed, is prevented bythe a'nges. The collar 17I1 may be rigidly fixed to the shaft'2 bythe hey 19 and .y the nut 20.

In still another modification shownv 'I ,y Figure 6, the lateral movement of the ers with respect to the gear is prevented. by the flanges 2l, fastened to the rockers 4by bolts 22. In other respects the gear connec- 105 tion may be similar to that shown in Figures l and 5.

Havi thus described my invention, an with thdglknowledge that changes and modi- {ications may be made that nevertheless 110 come'within the scope thereof, although not actually shown or described herein, I claim:

1. The combination with a shaft `and a rin xed to the shaft-and concentric therewit of a resilient cushioning element seated 11H5 in said ring, a second shaft, a gear carriedby said second shaft, a plurality of rocker shoes,` meshi with said gear and engaging said cushiomngelement and adapted to compress the cushioning element progressively as they 3. 'Ihe combination with ashaft and a gear mounted thereonfof a second shaft, a second distinct coupling member mounted on said second shaft and encircling said gear in spaced relation therewith, a resilient compressible member lyingbetween said gear and said second member and resting against one of them, and a series of rocking shoes meshing with said gear and adapted to rock against said resilient member.

4. In a shaft coupling two concentrically disposed coupling members, so proportioned as to provide an annular space between the outer perimeter of the one and the inner perimeter of the other, one of said perimeters being provided with gear teeth and the other with a resilient compressible surface,

,anda plurality of rocker shoes meshing with said gear teeth and compressing said surface.

- 5. In a shaft coupling which includes two concentrically disposed coupling members so proportioned as to provide an annular space between thevouter perimeter of one and the inner perimeter of the other, rocker shoes disposed on 'one of said perimeters and" engaging therewith by means of gear teeth connections, and a resilient compressible de- `vice extending from the working face of each of said shoes tothe other perimeter.

6. In a shaft coupling, which includes two concentrically disposed coupling members, so proportioned as to provide an annular space between the outer perimeter of one and the inner perimeter of the other, gear teeth on said outer perimeter, rocker shoes mounted on said outer perimeter and meshing therewith, and an annular compressible resilient body seated in the said inner perimi rin eter and engaging the working faces of said shoes.

7, rIhe combination with a shaft and a fixed to the shaft and concentric therewit of a resilient cushioning element seated in said ring, a second shaft, a gear carried by said second shaft, said gear being pro- .vided with means for preventing axial movefrom normal position, and means for preventing axial movement of said rocker shoes with respect to-said gear.

9. The combination with vl.a shaft and a ring fixed to the shaft and concentric therewith, of a resilientcushioning body seated in said ring, a second shaft, a fish-bone gear carried by said second shaft, a plurality of rocker shoes meshing with said gear and engaging said cushioning. element, and

adapted to compress the cushioning element progressively as they rock from normal po- 10. The combination with a shaft and a rin wit of a resilient cushioning bodyseated in said ring, 'a second shaft, a fish-bone gear composed of a plurality of complementary sections carried byv said second shaft, a'plurality of rocker shoes meshing with said gear 'and engaging said cushioning element'and adaptedI to compress the resilient element progressively as they rock from normal position. A,

11. A4 shaftcoupling comprising a fishbone gear, a ring-provided 'with a groove in its inner perimeter, said perimeter beingV greater than the perimeter of said gear, av

plurality of rockersA mounted on the perimeter of said gear and meshing therewith, grooved shoes carried by said iiockers, said shoes being opposed to the said groove insaid ring,A and a resilient bodynormally under compression between said shoes and said ring.

12. In a shaft coupling a coupling member comprising a ring, a resilient cushioning device seated in the interior perimeter of said ring, a second coupling member provided with gear teeth arranged thereon on the circumference of a circle, said circle befixed to the shaft and concentric thereing concentric with said ring, rockers mounted on said second coupling member and meshing with said teeth, and' shoes on said rockers bearingagainst said cushioning element.

13. In a shaft coupling an annular coupling member, a second coupling member provided with gear teeth arranged thereon on the circumference of a circle, said circle being concentric with said ring and of less diameter, rocking devices engaging said gear teeth, and a compressible resilient device extending from each rocking device to the' inner perimeter of said annular member.'4

14. In a shaft coupling an Iannular coupling member, a second coupling member provided with gear teeth disposed thereon on the circumferenceof a circle, said circle being concentric' with said annular niember and of less diameter, rocking devices engaging said gear teeth, meansv for reventing play of said rocking devices axiallly of said annular member, and a compressible resilient device extending from each rocking device to the innerperimeter of said annular cous pling member.

15. In a shaft .coupling an annular coupling member, a second coupling member isov '45g ralenti ,provided with {ish-bone teeth disposed thereon on the circumference of a circle,l

said circle being concentric with said annuf larl member and of less f diameter, rocking devices engaging said gear teeth and a com-..

pressible resilient device extending from each rocking device to the inner perimeter of said annular Inember.-

16. ln a shaft coupling an annular cou'- pling member, a second coupling membersections of the perimeter of which are provided with gear teeth located in the .plane i of said annular member, rocking devices enlgagingsaid teeth, and a compressible resilient device extending .from each rocking devlce to said resilient device.

v 17.1[n a shaft coupling an annular cou-y pling member, a second coupling .member .sections of the perimeter of which are rovided with gear teeth located in the glane' of' annular member, rocking de ices engaglng said teeth, a compressible resilient device extending from each rocking device 'to said VKresilient'devi'ce, and flanges adapted lte prevent play of said rocking devices axially of said second coupling member.

` 18. ln a shaft coupling an annular coupling member, .al second coupling member -sectlons of the perimeter of which are provided with gear teeth located in the plane engaging said teeth, a compressible resilient device extending from each rocking device to said resilient device, said second coupling member being provided with radially projecting Hanges whereby lateral play of said rocking devices With respect to said second coupling member is prevented.

19. In a shaft coupling, a coupling member fcarrying inwardly projecting resilient cushion devices, all second ycouplin within the first and provided with radially projecting gear teeth, rocking devices engaging said gear teeth and provided with shoes engaging said cushioning devices.j

20. Ina shaft coupling, a coupling mem.- ber, a second coupling memberwithin the rst and annularly spacedl from the first, resilient cushioning devices within the space thereby formed seated on one of said memmember bers, gear teeth on the other of said mem .f

ed on said gear teeth', said rockingdevices being provided with' shoes which engage said resilient devices.

ln testimony whereof, l have signed this speciication.

TIMOTHY c. noeieiN-s 

